LITMIR.BIZ

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      “You’re up next.” The guide motioned at the jump platform outside the windows. “Mr. Cain, you can wait with her.”

      Travis saw Christine’s balance wobble as her legs threatened to buckle. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and held her close. “Christine,” he said huskily in her ear, “why do you want to jump?”

      * * *

      WHY DID SHE want to jump? Christine stared at Travis as she considered the question. Was it because she wanted to become an exciting person? Was it because she just wanted to do one stupid thing to tell her friends?

      Or was it because she needed to stop making excuses? She made choices knowing it meant she didn’t pursue her interests. She had placed other people and goals first. She had delayed her dreams of travel to be there for her mother and, later, for Darrell. She didn’t know why she did it, but she had no one to blame but herself.

      And because she had stayed in Cedar Valley, she had a job, a home, and belonged to a close community. She was fortunate and she knew it. It took years to get where she was today. She had invested so much time and energy and she didn’t want to give that up.

      And yet...it felt as if it wasn’t her life. It definitely wasn’t her dream. She knew she should be grateful, but she wanted more. Something else. She felt she was too young to feel so old. That if she didn’t do something now, she would never break free from the routine and predictability.

      She slowly raised her head. “I’m jumping because I want to know what it feels like.” She wanted to take a risk. Allow the fear and exhilaration to collide inside her. Test her mettle and discover what she could do. When was the last time she did that?

      Okay, she had felt a zing of exhilaration when Travis approached her. And when she pretended to be someone else, she hadn’t felt that nervous in a long time. But that was different; it had nothing to do with skills or accomplishment. It was simple and instant attraction. Travis Cain was a handsome guy and she was in Vegas. It was a moment when she felt that anything was possible.

      “You’re going to do great, Christine,” Travis called out to her as she walked to the platform. “You’ll be fine.”

      “I don’t want to be fine,” she said over her shoulder. “I want to shake things up.”

      Christine stood on the platform and stared out at the Strip. She tasted the fear as she started trembling. She barely heard the man behind her giving tips as he strapped her onto the wires.

      “Ready?” the man asked.

      She shook her head. Christine stared at the small blue X on the ground, where she was supposed to land. She knew this was a controlled fall, that the wires would keep her on target with where she needed to land, but the ground was so far away.

      “You don’t have to jump,” the man explained. “All you have to do is let go.”

      He said it as if it was no big deal. That it was perfectly normal to let go of something solid and safe so she could fall to the ground. She took a big breath.

      “Don’t think about it,” the man said. “That will only make it more difficult.”

      That was her problem in a nutshell. She thought too much. She considered every possibility, every outcome. It didn’t take long before she was frozen with indecision and did nothing.

      She didn’t want to be like that anymore. “I’m ready.” Her voice shook.

      “Put your toes on the edge. Good. Three...two...one...”

      Christine closed her eyes, let go and screamed all the way down.

      * * *

      TRAVIS PACED ON the ground floor as he waited for Christine to change out of her flight suit. He glanced out the window and saw Pitts and Underwood on the sidewalk. They were at a discreet distance as they watched the other sky jumpers.

      His instincts told him that they suspected he had the emerald. The stone in his jacket suddenly felt large and heavy. He refused to check his breast pocket. He knew the jewel was deep green and uncut. It was also safely tucked away in a tiny, sealed plastic bag. He didn’t know much about gems, but he knew this small emerald was worth a lot of money.

      When Aaron first suggested he carry it around in his pocket, Travis thought it was a crazy plan. But it also made sense. Keep the emerald moving with very little fanfare and there was little chance of it getting stolen by Hoffmann. Aaron only needed to show it to an appraiser before the poker game. Once the game was over, Aaron would return home and lock it back up in a safe.

      But there was a glitch neither he nor Aaron had considered. Someone had figured out that he had the emerald. Why else would these guys be following him? Travis thought he had lost them when he had taken a bright yellow cab down the traffic-choked street with Christine before they got out and walked the rest of the way. Pitts and Underwood were better than he had expected.

      He needed to shake them off before they decided to pounce. He would never forgive himself if Christine got hurt or if he lost the emerald.

      “Travis? Is everything okay?”

      Travis turned at the sound of Christine’s voice. He paused, his chest tightening as he watched her approach. Something had changed about her. She still wore the short blue dress and impractical heels, and her soft brown hair was windblown, but there was no significant alteration in her appearance.

      Yet she now walked with a purposeful stride. Her shoulders were back, her head held high as if she was ready to take on the next challenge. A fire had been lit inside her. It was fragile and small. He wanted to see it flare wildly.

      “You should be proud of yourself,” he said. He knew she had to dig deep and find the courage to take the plunge.

      “I am,” she admitted with a wide smile. “But my heart is still racing. I don’t think my legs have stopped shaking. I thought I was going to throw up after I landed, but that was a false alarm. And my throat hurts.”

      Travis smiled at how she spoke in quick bursts. He didn’t think she was going to be quiet and reserved anymore. The shy Christine had caught his attention, but this side of her was capturing his imagination. “Yeah, you screamed all the way down.”

      “You would, too.” She covered her mouth with her hand. “I can’t stop smiling.”

      He reached for her wrist and pulled her hand away. “Why hide it?”

      “Right. Exactly. Why hide it? I just feel strange. Different. Powerful.” She gave a husky chuckle. “I’m not making sense, am I?”

      “You’re making perfect sense,” he assured her as he guided her back onto the crowded sidewalk. He knew Christine was still enjoying the excitement of her jump. Her senses were heightened. This was the time when she would be bolder because she felt stronger.

      Christine slid her arm through his and held him close. “Everything is so loud. Colorful. I feel like Alice in Wonderland.”

      Travis looked down at her in surprise. The way she spoke it sounded as if she’d never had an adrenaline rush. How was that possible? People got a high from speeding, having sex and facing their fears. What had she been doing all her life?

      He held her arm tighter and led her along the sidewalk. He felt very protective of Christine. She stared at the Las Vegas lights as if everything was becoming brighter. Clearer. Her smile widened. He knew he wanted to see that smile all night long.

      “Where to next?” he asked.

      She stumbled in her platform heels. “Oh, I shouldn’t decide.”

      “Why not? I’m your guide.” He found it curious that she was reluctant to try something more when she seemed so excited about her jump. This was the time when most people would set a bigger challenge for themselves.

      “You’re supposed to be showing me your Las Vegas,” she reminded him, her shoulder and hip bumping against

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